After days of outrageous coverage, a Colorado Sheriff is now saying that the Balloon Boy hoax was "publicity stunt" to generate buzz for a reality show. Richard Heene, the controversial father behind the weather balloon stunt, reportedly had been planning the stunt for months. While the plan was to create hype for a new reality show, the stunt could land Heene in jail for as many as six years on charges of conspiracy, false reporting to the authorities, and a number of other counts.
Notable street artist Shepard Fairey, known for his signature HOPE poster for the Obama campaign, is in a serious legal fight with the Associated Press. The squabble, which has been going on for months, is over Fairey's reported use of a copyrighted AP photo. While Fairey now admits that he lied about the image he worked from, he still claims fair use, noting that he found the photo via a Google Image shoot. The copyright case could have a major outcome on the Fair Use Doctrine.
Verizon and Google are going after Apple in a new advertising campaign. The Verizon ad for its new Google Android based offering lists all the functions the iPhone does not offer. The campaigns slogan, "Everything iDon't, Droid Does."
In other Verizon Wireless news, the mobile provider is reportedly set to bring the Palm Pre to its network. According to Verizon Wireless Twitter account, the Pre may be available as soon as early 2010. The announcement comes as Verizon takes additional steps to combat a surge in iPhone sales.
Where the Wild Things Are grossed approximately $32.5 million this weekend to top the box office. The Warner Bros. adaptation of the famous children's book earned more than 12 million more than Law Abiding Citizen, its closest competition. The film brought increased overall box office numbers, with ticket sales increasing 40% over the same weekend last year.
Shelly Palmer is a consultant and the host of MediaBytes with Shelly Palmer a daily show featuring news you can use about technology, media & entertainment. He is Managing Director of Advanced Media Ventures Group LLC and the author of Television Disrupted: The Transition from Network to Networked TV. Shelly is also President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. You can join the MediaBytes mailing list here. Shelly can be reached at shelly@palmer.net For information about Get Digital Classes, visit www.shellypalmer.com/seminars